Top-prop for vehicles



(No Model.)

F. E. BENTON.

TOP PROP FOR'VBHIGLBS.

No. 439,927. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS E. BENTON, OF STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOP-PROP FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,927, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed March 26, 1890. Serial No. 345,320. (No model.)

- vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains .to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The special object of the invention is to make top-props for vehicles which will be strong, durable, and not liable to get out of order or lose the nut.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation showing all the parts of my invention put together; Fig. 2, a detail view of the screw and the plate by which it is fastened to the vehicle-top; Fig. 3, a detail sectional view of the bell andthe jamrner which prevents it from turning; Fig. 4, a detail vertical sectional view of the nut with its rim and cover; Fig. 5, a detail view of the two washers. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the bell on dotted line as at of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7, a vertical section, except of the screw. Fig. 8 is a View of a portion of the top joint.

In the drawings, A represents the screw, whose lower end passes through the plate B and is upset in a countersink thereof. Just above, the plate is bulged, but made fiat at a a, while in the upper threaded end is a diametrical slot a, extending to or nearly to the journal (F, on which the brace 13' turns. The bell O is made on the inside with the fiat surfaces 0 0, against which lie the wings d dof the jammer D, which has the wings, connected by a ring (1. The inside of the wings d d are also fiat and fit against the bell-surfaces c. This effectually prevents the bell not only from turning, but from having any play at all.

D is a clevis folded on a curve 01 at the middle to form two parallel plates d 61 with central registeringholes, through which passes the screwA. The bottom plate (1 is provided with downwardly-projecting corrugations d,

which enter corresponding notches in the upper edge of the bell, so as to prevent the clevis D from turning.

E E are ring-washers with a diametrical strip which enters the end slot of the screw and prevents either from turning. The solid washer E is put down to the bottom of the screw-slot to form one of the journal sides between which the brace turns, and the flexible metallic washer E, which is notched at e on the periphery, is placed flat upon the piece E. Then the nut F is screwed down and some sections of the edge of the washer E turned up against its sides. As the nut cannot turn back, all the parts are retained fixedly together.

On the top of the nut F, I use a leather cover G, whose edges are held down by the rim-piece H, which has prongs which correspond with the notches f on the nut. The prongs 72, are pressed down or riveted on the back side of the not at f to appear like stitching.

Having thus described all that is necessary to a full understanding of my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. The screw A, bulged near the bottom and made fiat at aa, in combination with the bell 0, having the flat opposite inside surfaces 0 c, and the jammer D, having the wings d d and ring d, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a bell notched at the upper edge, and a clevis D','formed of two plates 01 d parallel to each other, having corrugations to fit said notches, connected integrally at d and having registering holes in the middle, with a washer, screw, and nut, the washer being made larger than the nut and notched at the periphery, as shown and described.

3. The combination of an end notched capnut F, a leather cover G, and the rim-piece H, the latter having prongs h to correspond with the nut-notches f, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS E. BENTON.

Witnesses:

EUGENE H. Moons, JOHN COGHLAN. 

